The Summer Everything Almost Didn't Change

I was sprawled across my bed, doom-scrolling through Instagram, when Jace burst into my room without knocking. Again.

"Dude, you have to come over. Mrs. Henderson's cat is actually plotting world domination, and I'm pretty sure it succeeded while she was at bingo."

I groaned into my pillow. Jace had been my best friend since seventh grade, back when we'd bonded over our mutual inability to talk to crushes without making everything weird. But ever since his glow-up over the summer, my Instagram DMs had become suspiciously crowded with girls from school suddenly interested in whether I knew if he was single.

"Why are you pet-sitting again? You literally got fired last time."

"This time is different! I've been taking this vitamin supplement from my mom. She says it promotes responsibility."

"Your mom thinks energy drinks are a food group, Jace."

Still, I grabbed my backpack. Anything was better than my dad's awkward speech about how I needed to put myself out there more.

Mrs. Henderson's house smelled like lavender and questionable life choices. Jace pointed dramatically at the kitchen.

"The cat knocked over the goldfish bowl. The goldfish is currently in a mixing bowl with lukewarm water, staring at me with judgment in its eyes."

I stared. The goldfish, Orange Julius, was indeed swimming in circles, looking unimpressed.

"Why haven't you changed the water?"

"I tried! But the cat keeps hissing at me whenever I go near the sink. It's like it knows I'm not a real adult yet."

Something about Jace standing there, hair messy, eyes panicked, holding a mixing bowl with a goldfish that looked like it had given up on life—it just hit me. We were both just faking it. The glow-up, the confidence, the Instagram girls chasing him—he was still the same kid who couldn't talk to his crush without making everything weird.

"You're such a disaster," I said, grabbing a fresh water jug from the fridge.

"Your dad's speech went that bad?"

"He gave me the 'put yourself out there' talk again."

Jace snorted. "Classic. Hey, after we save Orange Julius, want to go to that boba place? My treat."

The cat hissed. The goldfish swam. I found myself actually smiling.

"Only if you promise to never pet-sit again."

"Deal. But also, you should probably put yourself out there. That girl in your chem class keeps looking at you."

"Shut up, Jace."

Some things never change. But maybe that wasn't the worst thing in the world.